Normally-closed explosive-actuated valve



H. F. ECKARDT ETAL 3,202,162

NORMALLY-CLOSED EXPLOSIVE-ACTUATED VALVE Aug. 24, 1965 Original Filed May 9, 1960 67 I J 2] Q6 l J9 5] 10 34 K 54 I j JGH/V 4. M425 1 INVENTORS.

ATTOPA/E'K Hans F. Eclrardt, 18161 Allegheny Drive,

United States Patent Oflfice 3,202,162 NORMALLY-'CL'0SED EXPLQSIVE-ACTUATED VALVE Santa Ana, 628 Arbolado Drive, Fuller- May 9, 249,953

Calif and John L. Marsh, ton, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 27,870, 1960. This application Jan. 7,1963, Ser. No.

Claims. (Cl. 137-68) This invention relates to an explosive-actuated valve of the normally-closed type. This application is a continuation of our co-pending patent application Serial Number 27,870, filed May 9, 1960, for Normally-Closed Explosive- Actuated Valve, and since abandoned.

An object of the present invention is to provide an explosive-actuated valve which is simple and economical to manufacture yet is highly reliable, effective and eflicient in operation.

A further object is to provide an explosive-actuated valve which positively prevents any flow prior to actuation, yet permits unrestricted and turbulence-free straightthrough flow subsequent to actuation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an explosive-actuated valve incorporating a combination energyabsorbing and seal or isolation means adapted not only to retard movement of the ram subsequent to the explosion but also to prevent products of the explosion from entering the controlled fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve incorporating a blind nipple element which prevents the pressure of the controlled fluid from entering the explosive element prior to actuation, and which prevents the controlled fluid from causing hydraulic lock prior to actuation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an explosive-actuated valve incorporating means effective to prevent the sheared nipple portion from entering the fluid stream, and to prevent chips and contaminants from entering the fluid stream.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawing to which they relate.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an explosive-actuated valve constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FIGURE 1 but illustrating the parts in the positions assumed subsequent to actuation; and

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment wherein both threaded fittings for the fluid conduits are machined integral with the valve body, and wherein the nipple is suitably pressed, shrunk or taperfitted in position.

Referring first to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-3 of the drawing, the explosive-actuated valve may be seen to comprise an elongated hollow body 14 an elon gated ram 11 mounted coaxially in body for longitudinal movement therein, and a nipple element 12 having a portion adapted to be sheared ofi' upon movement of the ram longitudinally of the body. Means are provided to create a straight-through flow path for the controlled fluid in response to shearing of nipple 12 subsequent to igniting of the explosive actuator or squib which is indicated at 14. As will be described in detail subsequently, such means includes energy absorbing, stop and sealing portions which perform various functions including pre- 3,262,162 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 vention of contamination. of the controlled fluid by the products of the explosion. i

The hollow body 10 is closed at one end by a wall 16 and is open and internally threaded at the other end to threadedly receive the explosive actuator or squib 14. One portion 17 of the valve chamber within body 10, adjacent end wall 16, is cylindrical and relatively small in diameter. Another and coaxial chamber portion, numbered 18 and located adjacent squib 14, is also cylindrical but has a somewhat larger diameter. Chamber portions 17 and 18 are axially spaced from each other and are connected by a tapered or frustoconical portion 19 the wall of which forms part of the energy-absorbing means indicated above, being adapted to absorb energy from ram 11 and also to create a seal.

The ram 11 incorporates portions shaped to conform, except as will be described subsequently, to the walls of the smaller-diameter and tapered chamber portions 17 and 19. The ram also includes, relatively adjacent the squib 14-, a short cylindrical portion which corresponds in diameter to chamber portion 18. Such larger-diameter ram portion is provided with an O-ring seal 21 which slides sealingly on the wall of chamber portion 18 to create an initial seal preventing contamination of the controlled fluid by propellant gases.

The inner end of ram 11, in chamber portion 17, is machined flat to provide a surface 22 lying in a plane parallel to the ram axis and spaced a short distance thereabove. The ram portion relatively adjacent end wall 16 is formed with a cylindrical recess 23 the axis of which is perpendicular to fiat surface 22 and intersects the ram axis. A port or passage 24 is formed through the flattened ram portion a short distance from recess 23, such port being cylindrical and having an axis which is perpendicular to surface 22 and intersects the axis of the ram. The port or passage 24 forms a part of the previously-indicated means for creating the straight-through fluid flow path in response to shearing of the end of nipple element 12.

Nipple element 12 is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 as being suitably threaded into body it in such manner that its axis intersects that of ram 11. The outer portion of the nipple element, which forms the inlet to the valve, is shown as being suitably threaded to receive a connector conduit (not shown). It is to be understood that the valve inlet (and also the valve outlet) may be constructed as a flared tube fitting, flareless tube fitting, internally-threaded boss, internally or externally-threaded pipe thread or manifold, etc. A wrench-hold portion 26 is formed on the nipple and is adapted to seat on an O-ring 27, the latter being suitably seated in the valve body around the nipple for prevention of leakage from the valve chamber.

The inner end of nipple 12 comprises a relatively thickwalled tubular portion 28 extending to the plane of flat surface 22, and a coaxial and relatively thin-Walled tubular portion 29 disposed in recess 23 and having a closed or blind end wall 31. An external shoulder or stress riser 32 is formed at the junction of the thick-walled and thinwalled tubular portions 28 and 29, in the plane of flat surface 22., and performs important functions to be described hereinafter. The valve body 10 is formed integrally with an outlet portion 33 which may correspond to the outer portion of nipple 12. It is emphasized that outlet portion 33 is formed with a straight passage which is coaxial with the passage or chamber in nipple 12, and has the same diameter. The port or passage 24 through ram 11 also has the same diameter, so that subsequent to actuation of the valve (FIGURE 3) these three passages will combine to create a single unrestricted straight-through flow passage between the valve inlet and valve outlet.

The explosive element or squib 14 may be of any suitable construction known to the art, and may contain a solid propellant such as is used in rocketry. The explosive may be electrically or mechanically ignited. A suitable O-ring 34 is provided to prevent leakage of gas around the squib 14.

The distance between the axis of recess 23 and that of port or passage 24 corresponds to the distance between the end wall 16 and the inner end of ram 10, so that port 24 will be precisely aligned with the inlet and outlet passages subsequent to actuation (FIGURE 3). This distance is substantially greater, however, than the distance between the tapered portion of ram 11 and the wall of tapered portion 19 of the valve chamber. It follows that substantially before the inner end of the ram contacts the wall 16, the tapered portion of the ram will engage the tapered wall of the valve chamber to commence dissipation of the energy created by the explosion. The ram is then deformed into such shape that it creates a secondary seal preventing leakage of gases to the flow path. Such deformation is facilitated by the presence of an axial bore 36 formed in the outer end of the ram.

OPERATION The valve is readily assembled by merely inserting the ram 11 into the valve chamber and so positioning the ram that recess 23 is opposite and coaxial with the internally-threaded valve-body opening for nipple 12. Nipple 12 is then threadedly inserted into the valve body, in such manner that its inner end portion 29 enters the recess 23 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Assembly is then completed by threading the squib 14 into the open end of the valve body. Suitable conduits are then connected to the outer portion of nipple 12 and to valve outlet 33.

Since the nipple 12 is blind and is of integral construction, there is no possibility of leakage from the valve inlet to the outlet 33, to squib 14 or to the small-diameter portion 17 of the valve chamber. This eliminates all possibility of interaction between the controlled fluid and the explosive, and also eliminates the possibility of hydraulic lock due to the presence of controlled fluid in the valve chamber.

When the squib or explosive element 14 is electrically or mechanically ignited, the resulting gases are trapped by O-rings 21 and 34 between the outer end of ram 11 and the squib. Ram 11 is then propelled inwardly in an unimpeded manner (except for the resistance caused by the nipple shearing at stress riser 32, to be discussed below) until the tapered ram portion engages the wall of tapered portion 19 of the valve body. Thereafter, as discussed above, the outer portion of the ram is deformed to result in absorbing of the energy created by the explosion. It follows that the engagement of the inner end of the ram with wall 16 will be with insufiicient force to create undesirable effects such as rebound or fracture. Furthermore, and very importantly, the engagement between the tapered portions of the valve body and ram provides a secondary seal which is highly effective to prevent gases from entering the controlled fluid after the gas pressure between the ram and the squib becomes so great that O-ring 21 is no longer effective to prevent leakage.

During the above-described inward shifting of ram 11 from the FIGURE 1 position to the FIGURE 3 position, the inner portion 29 of nipple 12 is sheared off cleanly at the shoulder or stress riser 32, and travels in recess 23 into the chamber portion 17. The resulting close surface contact between flat surface 22 and the inner end of the thick-walled tubular nipple portion 28 results in several important advantages. Such advantages include preventing the ram 11 from rotating about its longitudinal axis, thereby insuring that port 24 will be in perfect axial alignment with the inlet and outlet passages. Another advantage is that contaminants and chips are prevented from entering the fluid stream. The presence of the stress riser or shoulder 32 insures that there will be no bending at the fracture point, but only an extremely clean fracture,

4 EMBQDIMENT OF FIGURE 4 The embodiment of FIGURE 4 is identical with that of FIGURES 1-3, except as will be described subsequently. Corresponding reference numerals have been employed to denote corresponding parts, certain reference numerals in FIGURE 4 being followed by the letter a.

In the construction of FIGURE 4, the threaded fitting for the inlet conduit is machined integral with the valve body 1%, as shown at 37. The nipple 12a is then pressed, shrunk or taper-fitted into the portion 37 of the valve body and in such manner that its blind inner end enters the recess 23 as in the case of the previous embodiment. In accordance with the present embodiment, an annular groove 33 is provided in the inner end portion of the nipple, at flat surface of the ram. Such groove augments the action of the stress riser in insuring a clean fracture of the nipple.

It is to be understood that the present invention may also be incorporated in a tandem valve having two or more sets of inlet and outlet passages in axial alignment (respectively) with each other. In such valves, the ram incorporates a recess 23 and port 24 for each coaxial set of inlet and outlet passages. Furthermore, and very importantly, the valve body and the ram incorporate cooperating tapered portions not only between the single squib and the adjacent coaxial valve passages but also between adjacent sets of coaxial passages. Such tapered portions between the adjacent sets of coaxial valve passages serve to isolate the controlled fluids from each other, in addition to absorbing the energy created by the explosion. Suitable O-rings may also be provided between adjacent sets of valve passages.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims. 7

We claim:

1. A normally-closed explosive-actuated valve, comprising an elongated hollow valve body having a closed end and an open end, the interior wall of said body be- 1ng a relatively small-diameter cylinder adjacent said closed end and a relatively large-diameter cylinder adjacent said open end, said large-diameter and small-diameter cylindrical walls being axially spaced from each other and being connected by a frustoconical wall, an elongated one-piece ram mounted axially of said valve body for longitudinal movement therein, said ram-having an inner portion which is disposed radially-inwardly of said small-diameter cylindrical wall when the valve is in open condition, positive stop means provided in said valve body to stop movement of said ram at a predetermined point relatively adjacent said closed end, said ram also having a tapered portion corresponding generally to said frustoconical wall of said valve body and disposed to come into forceful engagement therewith prior to engagement of said ram with said positive stop means, said inner portion of said ram being provided with a flat surface lying in a plane parallel to the axis of said ram and relatively adjacent thereto, said inner portion of said ram having a cylindrical recess formed therein relatively adjacent the extreme inner end of said ram, said inner portion of said ram also having a cylindrical port formed therethrough parallel to said recess and disposed more remote than said recess from said extreme inner end of said ram, the axes of said recess and port being perpendicular to said flat surface, a nipple element mounted radially on said valve body and having a blind inner end extending into said recess, said nipple element also having a passage therethrough adapted to conduct fluid in response to removal of said blind inner end, said blind inner end of said nipple being associated with the main body thereof by a frangible connecting portion, said valve body having a radial outlet passage disposed coaxially with said nipple, said passage through said nipple and said outlet passage having diameters corresponding to each other and to that of said port through said ram, and a squib mounted in said open end of said valve body and adapted to be ignited to effect explosive propulsion of said ram inwardly until said ram engages said positive stop means, said port being so related to said recess that said port will be disposed coaxially with said passage through said nipple and with said outlet passage when said ram is engaged with I, said positive stop means to thereby create a straightthrough flow passage through said port, said interior of said valve body being free of objects between said squib and said ram.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which sealing means are provided in the outer end portion of said ram between said squib and said tapered portion of said ram.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which the taper angles of said tapered portion of said ram and of said frustoconical wall of said valve body are small, and in which said ram is of unitary one-piece construction.

4. A normally-closed explosive-actuated valve, comprising an elongated hollow valve body having a closed end and an open end, the valve chamber defined by said body having a relatively small-diameter cylindrical wall adjacent said closed end and a relatively large-diameter cylindrical wall adjacent said open end, said cylindrical walls being coaxial, said large-diameter and small-diameter walls being axially spaced from each other and being connected by frustoconical wall, an elongated one-piece ram mounted axially of said valve body for longitudinal movement therein, positive stop means provided in said valve body to stop movement of said ram at a predetermined point relatively adjacent said closed end, said ram having a tapered portion corresponding generally to said frustoconical wall of ,said valve body and disposed to come into forceful engagement theerwith prior to engagement of said ram with said positive stop means, said ram also having an inner portion which is disposed radiallyinwardly of said small-diameter cylindrical wall when the'valve is in open condition, said inner portion of said ram being provided with a flat surface lying in a plane parallel to the axis of said ram and relatively adjacent thereto, said inner portion of said ram having a cylindrical recess formed therein relatively adjacent the extreme inner end of said ram, said inner portion of said ram also having a cylindrical port formed therethrough parallel to said recess and disposed more remote than said recess from said extreme inner end of said ram, the axes of said recess and port being perpendicular to said flat surface, a nipple element mounted radially on said valve body at said small-diameter cylindrical wall and having a blind inner end extending into said recess, said nipple element also having a passage therethrough adapted to conduct fluid in response to removal of said blind inner end, said blind inner end of said nipple being associated with the main body thereof by a frangible connecting portion, said nipple also having a shoulder adjacent said frangible connecting portion and adapted to be engaged by said flat ram surface to prevent rotation of said ram upon longitudinal shifting thereof, said valve body having a radial outlet passage disposed diametrically opposite said nipple coaxially thereof, said port in said ram being so related to said positive stop means that said port will be disposed coaxially with said passage through said nipple and with said outlet passage when said ram is engaged with said positive stop means to thereby create a straight-through flow passage through the valve, and a squib mounted in said open end of said valve body and adapted to be ignited to effect explosive propulsion of said ram inwardly until said ram engages said positive stop means, the valve chamber within said valve body being free of objects between said squib and said ram whereby the combustion gases generated upon ignition of said squib contact said ram.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which a sealing ring is mounted on the outer portion of said ram for sliding-sealing contact with said large-diameter cylindrical wall. in References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,364 12/44 Temple l3768 2,540,322 2/51 Christensen l3768 XR 2,937,654 5/60 Wilner l3768 2,997,051 8/61 Williams l3768 3,093,151 6/63 Merkowitz l3768 3,111,133 11/63 Fulton l3768 ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A NORMALLY-CLOSED EXPLOSIVE-ACTUATED VALVE, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW VALVE BODY HAVING A CLOSED END AND AN OPEN END, THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID BODY BEING A RELATIVELY SMALL-DIAMETER CYLINFER ADJACENT SAID CLOSED END AND A RELATIVELY LARGE-DIAMETER CYLINDER ADJACENT SAID OPEN END, SAID LARGE-DIAMETER AND SMALL-DIAMETER CYLINDRICAL WALLS BEING AXIALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND BEING CONNECTED BY A FRUSTOCONICAL WALL, AN ELONGATED ONE-PIECE RAM MOUNTED AXIALLY OF SAID VALVE BODY FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREIN, SAID RAM HAVING AN INNER PORTION WHICH IS DISPOSED RADIALLY-INWARDLY OF SAID SMALL-DIAMETER CYLINDRICAL WALL WHEN THE VALVE IS IN OPEN CONDITION, POSITIVE STOP MEANS PROVIDED IN SAID VALVE BODY TO STOP MOVEMENT OF SAID RAM AT A PREDETERMINED POINT RELATIVELY ADJACENT SAID CLOSED END, SAID RAM ALSO HAVING A TAPERED PORTION CORRESPONDING GENERALLY TO SAID FRUSTOCONICAL WALL OF SAID VALVE BODY AND DISPOSED TO COME INTO FORCEFUL ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH PRIOR TO ENGAGEMENT OF SAID RAM WITH SAID POSITIVE STOP MEANS, SAID INNER PORTION OF SAID RAM BEING PROVIDED EITH A FLAT SURFACE LYING IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID RAM AND RELATIVELY ADJACENT THERETO, SAID INNER PORTION OF SAID RAM HAVING A CYLINDRICAL RECESS FORMED THEREIN RELATIVELY ADJACENT THE EXTREME INNER END OF SAID RAM, SAID INNER PORTION OF SAID RAM ALSO HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PORT FORMED THERETHROUGH PARALLEL TO SAID RECESS AND DISPOSED MORE REMOTE THAN SAID RECESS FROM SAID EXTREME INNER END OF SAID RAM, THE AXES OF SAID RECESS AND PORT BEING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLAT SURFACE, A NIPPLE ELEMENT MOUNTED RADIALLY ON SAID VALVE BODY AND HAVING A BLIND INNER END EXTENDING INTO SAID RECESS, SAID NIPPLE ELEMENT ALSO HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH ADAPTED TO CONDUCT FLUID IN RESPONSE TO REMOVAL OF SAID BLINF INNER END, SAID BLIND INNER END OF SAID NIPPLE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN BODY THEREOF BY A FRANGIBLE CONNECTING PORTION, SAID VALVE BODY HAVING A RADIAL OUTLET PASSAGE DISPOSED COAXIALLY WITH SAID NIPPLE SAID PASSAGE THROUGH SAID NIPPLE AND SAID OUTLET PASSAGE HAVING DIAMETERS CORRESPONDING TO EACH OTHER AND TO THAT SAID OPEN END OF SAID VALVE BODY AND ADAPTED TO BE IGNITED TO EFFECT EXPLOSIVE PROPULSION OF SAID RAM INWARDLY UNTIL OF SAID PORT THROUGH SAID RAM, AND A SQUIB MOUNTED IN SAID RAM ENGAGES SAID POSITIVE STOP MEANS, SAID PORT BEING SO RELATED TO SAID RECESS THAT SAID PORT WILL BE DISPOSED COAXIALLY WITH SAID PASSAGE THROUGH SAID NIPPLE AND WITH SAID OUTLET PASSAGE WHEN SAID RAM IS ENGAGED WITH SAID POSITIVE STOP MEANS TO THEREBY CREATE A STRAIGHTTHROUGH FLOW PASSAGE THROUGH SAID PORT, SAID INTERIOR OF SAID VALVE BODY BEING FREE OF OBJECTS BETWEEN SAID SQUIB AND SAID RAM. 